Ruling attachment for type-writers.



1. M. DUDLEY. RULING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. T917- Patented Apr. 8,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. IVI. DUDLEY.

RULING ATTACHMENT FOR TYP@ WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. I9IJ. I

Patented Apr. 8,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. EBEL.

JAMES M. DUDLEY, OF BESSEMER, ALMABA..

RULING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented npr. s, 1ere.

Application led September 14, 1917. Serial No. 191,424.

To all whomj it may concern a Be it known that l, JAMns M. DUDLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bessemer, in the county of Jederson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ruling Attachments for Type-Writers, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a ruling attachment for typewriters.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment capable of ruling lines of uniform weight and of the same appearance as the typewriting itself, and is largely intended for the purposes and work se't forth in Letters Patent No. 1,247,514, issued to me on the 20th day of November, 1917; but provides important improvements in the specific construction of the ruling attachment and the manner of mounting it on different makes of typewriters, which largely facilitate the operation as well as reduce the costs of manufacture. To this end I use a ruling roll and a ribbon to co-act therewith, which is preferably a ribbon similar to that in use on the typewriter to which the device is attached.

One object of my invention is to provide a yielding spring pressure on the ruling roll when held to its work, which materially aids in securing a uniformity of line and provides an automatic means of reducing the tension on the ribbon while it is in use against the aper.

A further object of my inventionis to rovide a simple means of shifting the rib on to secure a uniform wear and to almost completely use the ribbon surface. To be satisfactorily operable in the hands of the ordinary stenographer this ribbon shift must involve no careful adjustment of guides; furthermore, thc'control means to accomplish this shift must be set away from the ribbon itself, so as to avoid soiling the ngersby contact with the ribbon or rolls. To this end I provide a thumb screw outside of the spring frame roller container and thus accomplish both requirements with a simple means.

Furthermore, my invention, as well as being attachable to a type of machine provided with a holding means for pencils, pens, or like scribers, is by means of a novel supporting and clamping attachment made adaptable to any typewriter. e

As illustrative of the preferred embodiment of my invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 shows my invention attached to a special make of typewriter which is provided with a holding means for scribers.

/F ig. 2 is a front elevation of my ruling attachment.

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail of one of the roll bearings showing the ribbon retaining guides.

Fig. 5 is a lplan view of a typewriter wherein no provision is made for a ruling device, and shows my ruling attachment held in operating position by means of a novel supporting and clamping means.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of Fig. shows the relative position of the typeline, the path of the nearest type bar, and how the ruling attachment is positioned to operate on this type line yet clear the path of the type bar.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the supporting clamp.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

Where my invention is to be attached to a typewriter 1 provided with a holder 2 for a scriber, I provide a shank 3 adapted toy it closely and loey clamped by any suitable means in the holder. This shank at its lower end is turned down to form a shoulder 4 onto which is set the upper horizontal portion of a spring yoke 6. The joint is preferably formed by passing the shoulder 4 through a hole in the portion 5 and then riveting in place. Depending from the horizontal portion 5 and formed integral with it, are two similar parallel legs 7 which reduce in width at 8 and turn symmetrically outward to form a semi-circular or bowed spring portion 9 and finally terminatein short bearing ends 10, which are in line with the portions 7 and except for the semi-circular oset form a continuation of the legs 7. The bearing ends 10 have holes 11 adapted to receive and permit a free rotation of the trunnions 12 of the ruling roll. The ruling roll is preferably formed integral with its end trunnions 12, and comprises a cylindrical body 13 with a sharp annular ruling edge 14. The ruling edge can be continuous or formed with points to rule a continuous or a dotted line. The cylinder 13 is of length substantially equal to the spacing between the parallel bearing ends 10, when 5 andv the legs of the frame are not under tension, and the reduction in diameter of the cylinder 13 to form the trunnions 12 provides shoulders forming end bearings, which prevent lateral displacement of the ruling roll in the frame. On the outer side of one of the legs 7,fnear its upper end a hole is punched to receive a tapped boss 16 preferably riveted in place. Through this tapped boss 16 I pass a screw 17 having a threaded portion 18, terminating at one end in a knurled head 19 and having its other end turned down to form a cylindrical portion 20, thereby forming a shoulder 21 at the end of the threads. Mounted o-n this cylindrical portion 20 is a roller 22 having at each end flanges 23. After the roller 22 is in place the end of the cylindrical portion 20 is upset to form a head and the roller is prevented from end play by this head and the shoulder 21. Over the ruling roll and the roller 22 is passed the endless ribbon 24.

To mount the ribbon upon the rolls it is passed around the open end of the screw 17 and over the flange 23. The spring legs 7 are then spread until one of the trunnions l2 is removed from its bearing 11 and the ribbon passed over this open end, whereupon the released trunnion 12 is forced again to its bearing position and the ribbon is in place.

To shift the ribbon so as to utilize practically its entire surface it is only necessary to turn the screw 17, which moves t-he flanged roller 22 laterally in the yoke 6, thereby causing the two rollers to be out of line and the ribbon acting as a belt upon operation shifts itself 4to alinement and moves a fresh surface to the annular ruling edge. To prevent the ribbon from slipping from the ruling edge when it is being used 1n its extreme positions the bearing ends l0 are provided with guiding extensions 10 which engage the outer edge of the ribbon, as 1t approaches and leaves the ruling roll, and prevent extreme lateral adjustment wh1ch would permit the ribbon to leave the ruling edge.

Vhen'umy invent-ion is to be applied to a typewritmg machine not provided with the holder 2, I have designed a support and clamp means which would then, with mv ruling device, constitute the attachment. Four clearance of the various standard parts YVI prefer to mount my support and clamp means upon the upper horizontal frame plate 24?. The clamp is preferably stamped from sheet metal and comprises a body portion 25, which at one end is downturned to form a clamping flange 26, and its other end ex tends inwardly over the type bars to form a bearmgv-support '27 near the platen. "o securely fasten this end 27 to the plate 24 two downturned hook like linge-rs 28 a rc passed over the inner`edge flange of the plate 24 and are hooked under the lower edge of this flange. lVith these fingers and the flange 26 the clamp and support means is prevented from lateral movement, but to secure it against vertical displacementa thumb screw 29, having a conical point 30 is provided in the flange 26 at a position which will cause the conical point 30 to engage the lower edge of the outer flangeof the plate 24s"- and by a wedging act-ion clamp the, plate 25 in position. The plate is also adapted, where such exists on the frame 24a, tol be held in place by a bearing on one side against the ribbon guide 41 and on its opposite side against the cross bar support 2. To strengthen the support 27 I bend down a side flange 43 extending with increasing width from the outer end of the support along one side edge Vto and abutting against the inner edge of the frame plate 21a. To move the ruling device against the platen a lever 3l, formed preferably of a rod or bar, is pivoted by a screw 32 to the inner overhanging end of the bearing support 27 of the plate 25. This lever has its inner end 33 bent horizontally substantially at right angles toward the platen 35 of the type writer and enters a hole 3l in shank 3 of the ruling device where it is firmly secured. The lever 3l extends across the plate 25 and at its outer end is bent down to form a pull handle 36. In order to steady the lever and insure an absolutely rigid movement of the ruling device, I punch from the flange 26 a hold down flange 37, having its outer edge struck on an arch from the center of the ful-` crum 32 of the lever. At 38 I bend the arm 31 aroun'd the curved edge of this hold down flange 37, so as to prevent vertical displacement of the lever. the end of arc 37 to retain the arm 3l.

It will be noticed, Fig. 6, that the path of the nearest type bar, as well as the ribbon is not obstructed b v the attachment.

In operation, the ruling device being in position on thesupport provided with the typewriter. when it is desired to rule a line on the paper, the device is pressed against the platen and the carriage released so as to permit a free movement of the platen under the roll of the device. After anumber of lines have been made and the ribbon appears worn, the thumb screw is turned in either direction, just sulliciently to shift a new area of the ribbon under the ruling edge.

In operation. when the rulingdevice is used with the supporting and clamping means to form a complete attachment, and the attachment in clamped position. it is onlyY necessary to draw the pull handle 36 toward the operator with one hand while the other operates thc carriage release to move the V`platen carrying the paper beneath the ruling roll. All ribbon adjustments and operations A stop-l0 is formed on are performed the same as'when the ruling device is used separately.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: f

l. A typewriter ruling attachment, coinprising a roll having a ruling edge, a spring frame comprising fleXible arms in which the roll is journaled, and a movablel ribbon interpo'sed between the roll and the surface to be ruled.

2.- A typewriter ruling attachment, comprising a roll having a ruling edge, a U- shaped frame in the open end of which said roll is journaled, a ribbon guide in the frame, and an endless ribbon working about the'roll and guide, said frame opposite the ends of said roll being widened to form side guides for the ribbon.

3. A typewriter ruling attachment, comprising a U-shaped frame having flexible sides, a ruling roll having end trunnions detachably mounted to rotate in the free ends 4of said sides, and means to guide a ribbon between said roll and the surface to be ruled;

4. A. typewriter ruling attachment, comprising a U-shaped frame having lieXible outwardly bowed sides, a ruling roll having at one end a reduced end trunnion. means to journal the other end of "said roll in one side of said frame, the other side of said frame being perforated to receive said trunnion and being flexible enough to be sprung over the same to free one end of said roll, and means to guide a ribbon between said roll and the surface to be ruled.

5. A typewriter ruling attachment, coinprising a yoke having spring sides bowed loutwardly, a ruling roll journaled in the open end of said yoke, and means to interpose 4a movable ribbon between said roll and the surface to be ruled.

6. A typewriter ruling attachment, comprising a yoke frame, a ruling roll journaled in the open end of said frame, said frame comprising yieldable arms adapted to be sprung apart to release the roll, and a closed elfid' of' said frame.

ribbon Guide extending part way across the open eiid of said frame, at least one side of the frame being movable to readily detach it from the roll,`and a flanged ribbon guide mounted on one side only of said frame near its closed end.

8. A typewriter ruling attachment, comend of the lever, the

` adjusted bearing for said guide roller mounted near the other end of said frame.

10. A ruling attachment for typewriters, comprising a frame carrying a ruling roll, means to present a ribbon between the surface to be ruled and said roll,` a tubular shank on the frame, and a movable typewriter attachment adapted for attachment to said shank.

11. A typewriter attachment, comprising" a lever having a ruling roll journaled in its inner end, a handle at its outer end, a ribbon coacting with said roll, and a rigid bearing for said lever which is overhung' from the typewriterfraine toward the printing site on the typewriter platen.

12. A typewriter attachment, comprising a bracket having 'means to attach it to a typewriter, a lever fulcruined on the bracket,

a ruling roll journaled on the inner end of the lever, a ribbon with which the roll co-` acts, and an operating handle on the outer bracket having a holddown flange an edge of which is struck on an arc from the lever fulcrum, and a lip on the handle end of the lever disposed to travel under said curved e'dge of said flange.

13. A typewriter attachment, comprising a bracket having a down-turned hook adapted to catch under the inner edge of a typewriter'top and having a down turned flange over lapping the outer edge of said top, means to rigidly secure said bracket on the said top, an inward extension on the bracket reinforced and carrying a vertical pivot pin,

a lever journaled in said pin and adapted toswing horizontally, a ruling means on the inner end of said lever, and means to move said lever. into and out of ruling position.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

JAMES M. DUDLEY.

Witness J. GORDON SPARKES.

being detachable from 

